Watts, 50 Years On, Stands in Contrast to Today’s Conflicts

Donny Joubert watched the boy round the corner of the housing project holding what looked like a handgun. The barrel was pointed at him and the two officers from the Los Angeles Police Department. The boy was 10 or 11 years old, Mr. Joubert figured, and had more gleam than anger in his eyes. Mr. Joubert, a community activist who grew up in the project, shouted and lunged for the gun.

It was plastic. The police officers did not even reach for their holsters.

“Somewhere else, that kid would be...